Geomorphology of
mesophotic coral ecosystems
current perspectives on morphology, distribution, and mapping strategies
Communicated by Guest Editor Dr. John
S. D. Locker (&)
College of Marine Science, University of South Florida,140 7th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA e-mail: stan@marine.usf.end
R. A. Armstrong C. Sherman
Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagu ̈ez, PO Box 9013, Mayagu ̈ez, PR 00681, USA
T. A. Battista
NOAA/NOS/CCMA Biogeography Branch, 1305 East–West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 209 USA
J. J. Rooney
Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University Hawaii and NOAA, NMFS, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 1125-B Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814 USA
D. G. Zawada
St. Petersburg Coastal Marine Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 600 4th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 USA
REVIEW
Geomorphology of mesophotic coral ecosystems:
current perspectives on morphology, distribution, and mapping strategies
Coral Reefs (2010) 29:329–345
Received: 22 May 2009 / Accepted: 8 March 2010 / Published online: 30 March 2010 Government Employee: U.S. Geological Survey and NOAA 2010
Abstract
This paper presents a general review of the distribution of mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) in relationship to geomorphology in US waters. It was spe-cifically concerned with the depth range of 30–100 m,where more than 186,000 km2of potential seafloor area wasidentified within the US Gulf of Mexico/Florida, Caribbean,and main Hawaiian Islands. The geomorphology of MCEswas largely inherited from a variety of pre-existing struc-tures of highly diverse origins, which, in combination withenvironmental stress and physical controls, restrict thedistribution of MCEs. Sea-level history, along with depo-sitional and erosional processes, played an integral role information of MCE settings. However, mapping the distri-bution of both potential MCE topography/substrate andexisting MCE habitat is only beginning. Mappingtechniques pertinent to understanding morphology andMCE distributions are discussed throughout this paper.Future investigations need to consider more cost-effectiveand remote methods (such as autonomous underwatervehicles (AUVs) and acoustics) in order to assess the dis-tribution and extent of MCE habitat. Some understanding ofthe history of known MCEs through coring studies wouldhelp understand their initiation and response to environ-mental change over time, essential for assessing how theymay be impacted by future environmental change.
Keywords Mesophotic, Coral, Geomorphology, US Waters
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